Breastfeeding and Migraines

E., have you tried drinking more fluids? I had noticed that I would get migrains from not having enough fluids in me. Also, try out a chiropractor. I also found out I had a pinch nerve in my neck that was causing my migrains.

Headaches can be a symptom that you may not be giving your body everything it needs. Since you are breastfeeding, I am sure you are cautious about what you put into your body. Without knowing everything you are doing, I suggest: increase your protein intake, keep hydrated (divide your weight by 2 and that is how many ounces of water you should drink per day), and include fresh fruits and vegetables in your diet.

Something else you could do, is a massage. So much tension builds up in the back and the neck. Releasing that tension will help with headaches.

I provide personal nutrition consultations (the first consultation is at no charge). If this is of interest to you, contact me at ____@____.com you well,

M.

I have been dealing with migraines for several years. While pregnant and a year of b/f my doctor perscribes Tylenol 3 It really takes the edge off the headaches. If your still dealing with them I would really ask about it.

Hi E.,

You can take the following to help stop a migraine
1 plain Tylenol
1 Advil (or Motrin) -over the counter strength, not prescription strength
1 cup of coffee, tea, or caffeinated drink

This is compatible with breastfeeding and might really help. There are prescription medications used for migraines that are compatible with breastfeeding. Contact a local LLL Leader (llli.org) or LC (ilca.org) for info on medications. Your local hospital probably has an LC on staff that can look that up for you as well. I hope you feel better soon.
S.

I suffered from headaches and migranes my whole life. Drs. put me on all kinds of medications and nothing worked. Finally when I was pregnant and couldnt take anything but tylonel my OB told me to take magnesium. It is all natural. You need to take it everyday with your prenatals. Let it get in yourt system. The magnesium softend tissues in your body, so it softens the tissues in your head that are causing the headaches. This worked for me. I rarley get migranes or headaches anymore. Make sure to keep yourself well hydrated. I have found that is one of my triggers for migranes. Also if you do get a headache drink a little caffine and take tylonel. A little caffeine wont hurt while you are breastfeeding.

E., Been there... Acupressure will help take some of the pressure off, Have someone else do this 1, Lay down, put thumb pressure on your temples, until it hurts, slowly release, try 3 times. pinch the soft tissue between thumb and first finger, until it hurts, slowly release, again 3 times. You can try one at a time on your hands, see if and where it releases the pressure. Have you tried hot and cold packs on the back of your neck (base of your skull)? Try massages there too. 20/20. Ask your Dr. If you can do a cup of coffee and an aspirin first thing in the morning or middle of the night? good luck Hon. K.

I also suffered migraines when I was pregnant with my kids, and more recently when I started school again. for me, I think it was combination of hormones and my neck. We tried everything - the doctor gave me all sorts of meds, nothing worked. Finally one day when I felt a migraine coming on, I applied heat to my neck using one of those microwaveable neck wraps, and a cold pack to my face where the pain was starting. The migraine immediately subsided. I had to do that about 5 more times over the course of the next couple weeks, and then no more migraines!! Try it - you can google how to make your own neck wrap. Maybe it will work for you! When you're breastfeeding, you're probably craning your neck constantly to look at your baby, which might be contributing to your migraine triggers.

Good luck!
A.

Childbirth is extremely stressful on your body and you could just be going through a phase in your body "getting back to normal". I should definitely visit a chiropracter though and check out this website www.wilsonstemperaturesyndrome.com for info on how your body can change with the onset of phycial and emotional stress and what you can do about it. Good luck.

E. ~
You can take excedrine (the different types all have the same ingredients....and store brand is cheaper). Caffeine can be a trigger, but can also be a cure...so try some tea (if mine's bad I'll use 2 tea bags). You could also ask your doctor for Fioricet, it's safe while pregnant and breast feeding (tylenol, caffeine and a mild muscle relaxant). I would think about going to a Chiropractor...you may be out of alignment from the delivery.
good luck!
D. (OB nurse & migraine sufferer for many years)

Try a chiropracter. Maybe the weight of your growing abdomen pulled your spine out of balance and could be pinching nerve flow to your brain. I know alot of people that get amazing results with chiropractic visits. I personally don't get migrains but I have neck pain, and I'm going to the chiropractor for that, they also are giving me physical therapy that includes massage and it really is helping me. Most insurances cover this too. It's natural and won't interfere with you're nursing. Good luck.

E., I have an idea but check with your Dr. first because of the breast feeding. I suffered from migrains from the time I hit puberty and nothing ever helped me, even when they started using medicine specifically for migrains. A friend of mine at work gave me some Premsyn PMS to try and the pain never came. I took it within the first 15 minutes of getting the preliminary wavy lines in my sight and the pain never came. I only have to take 1 pill for it to work for me. I don't know what has caused your migrains so maybe it won't work-I don't know but it's worth a try. The label says to ask a physician if you are nursing. the ingredients are:500 mg Acetaminophen; 25mg Pamabrom; 15mg Pyrilamine Maleate. Before I found Premsyn I was fighting mine with Tylenol-it was like spitting on a blazing fire. The same pain reliever is in Premsyn but the combination of the medicines in it must be what makes it work. I hope it works for you-it was a Godsend for me. I hope your Dr. says it's O.K. Sincerely, C.C.

could the breastfeeding be causing upper back and neck tension that are leading to the headaches.... I have found upper back and neck issues often the cause of headaches... Massage therapy...less invasive than the nerve block, chemical free unlike meds! Totally safe for Mom & baby...
Bodywork To Go comes right to your home, that is who I recommend

I'm Liz Y's La Leche League Leader sister... and she's right: there are very, very few drugs that are not compatible with breastfeeding and of those very few there are many alternatives that are compatible within the same drug family. The few exceptions are radio-active drugs, street drugs and very few others.

The resource for finding compatible drugs for virtually anything is Thomas Hale's Drugs in Breastfeeding, something every doctor and pharamcist has access to.

Eric,
Try a very good chiropractor. Having a new baby and holding the baby to nurse puts strain on your neck.
T. P

THere is a Great Book called Medications and Mothers Milk?? I think that is what it is called that tells you how much a meication passes through to your milk. You will be surprised at how many medications you actually can take while bf. I had my wisdom teeth pulled when my daughter was 3 months old and was able to take vicodin. I would look into it. Contact LLL most leaders have the book I referanced.
Blessings, K.

E., my name is Dr. Rick Semlow. I am a chiropractor in Troy. My office is located on Rochester Road. We are across the street from Nino Salvalgios. If you would like, you can call my office this week and I would be happy to discuss the options that chiropractic can provide.

My office phone is ###-###-####

Let my staff know that I am expecting your call.

Rick Semlow, DC, CACCP

You can also take Darvocet along with the motrin. I also suffer from migraines. They were not as severe when I was breastfeeding though. Darvocet is what they give you after having a c-section and my ob perscribed them when I was having a migraine. I would talk to my dr about that. Also there are certain blood pressure medications that are good at preventing migraines, but I don't know if you can take them while breastfeeding.

A friend of mine used to get migraine headaches once or twice a week for almost 15 years, she had been prescribed many different meds, then she went to an acupuncturist and after a 3-4 weeks of treatment she quit getting migraines! This was back in March of last year and she had one migraine a few months ago, went back to the acupuncturist for a couple more treatments and has been fine since, she said it has changed her life dramatically!

Did you have a epidural or spinal block? Sometimes those will cause the onset of migraines.

You can take Excedrin Migraine btw, it has a tylenol asprin and caffiene cocktail that works for Migraine relief

Hello Eric,

Congratulations on the birth of your baby and breastfeeding. It is THE most important thing that you can do for your baby. I also suffer from Migraines, but have found taking more magnesium every day helps prevent them. Here is an article that addresses the use of Magnesium. Please check with your doctor first though, as I'm not sure if there are any contraindications for your baby. Good luck!!!

http://www.amenclinics.com/blog/967/magnesium-citrate-for...

Talk to your OB/doctor/pharmacist about what you can take. I have suffered from migraines since I was a kid, and my mom used to get migraines pretty much 20 out of 30 days a month when I was growing up (they've mostly gone away now that she's going through menopause). There was something that she recommended I take when I was breastfeeding my first baby 3 years ago, but I can't remember what it was-- it did do the trick, though. Of course, I only took it once. My mom goes to the Head Pain Institute (I think it's on Northwestern Hwy in Farmington Hills)-- perhaps a specialist there could help you.

Go to a Chiropractor. They can fix anything! lol
Make sure you go for more than 1 visit as well, it's not a quick unhealthy fix like medication.
Let us know how it goes!

My sister is a La Leche League leader and she said that you should contact your pharmacist as there are many medications that are compatible with breast milk. If you don't want to try drugs my mother in law used to have migranes, she cut out caffine and takes 1000 mg of calcium magnesium a day, she no longer has them.

As someone who has suffered with the migranes for 20 years- its very trial and error...all the ideas psted are worth trying out. Nothing is as awful as a migrane whith a baby to care for!
Are you on any type of hormonal birth control? (Some types are ok for breastfeeding (per my Dr))- maybe its a type you never took before? I always had problems with migranes and birth control pills/shots.
I also found that a SMALL glass of red wine always helps my migrane. Then again- some people find red wine is a trigger....
One thing not noted- try keeping a log of what you eat/drink/and note anything unusual (ex: only slept 2 hours,). You may find a trigger that if avoided- will elimate the migranes. Good luck!

Would you consider cranial sacral therapy or chiropractic care? I see you're in Troy.. there's Cranial Sacral Institute in Shelby Township. Our chiro is in Sterling Heights near Lakeside Mall.

If I have a headache or feel I'm getting sick.. it helps a bunch.